Chapter 11: Difficulties in Returning to the Prefecture

Upon hearing the words from LiuYu, the demon feigned an air of maturity and turned around to carefully scrutinize her. He sighed heavily, hesitated for a moment, and then rubbed his chin, "Meeting you must be fate. I'll say a few more words, but the divine secrets cannot be revealed. Now that your face is shrouded in dark light, calamity is inevitable. If you trust me, I will take the risk to help you resolve it. You just need to be generous and I will make offerings to the Buddha on your behalf. I can help you overcome this calamity. If you don't believe and refuse to resolve the disaster, you will undoubtedly be in great danger within three days."

The demon looked at LiuYu nervously, a hint of concern in his eyes. "So, you mean as long as I spend money to dispel the disaster and you make offerings to the Buddha on my behalf, I can resolve this calamity? How much silver is needed?"

After speaking, a hint of cunning flashed in the demon's eyes. If he wanted to make offerings to the Buddha, he could easily go to the temple. Why would he need her?

LiuYu, with a serious expression, said, "The amount is up to you. The more you give, the faster I can resolve it. Rest assured, with my help, I can definitely ward off the bloodthirsty calamity for you. In the future, no evil spirits will dare to approach you."

After thinking for a moment, the demon quickly nodded and took out five silver notes. "Will five hundred taels be enough?"

LiuYu didn't expect the demon to be so easily deceived and to be so generous. She calmly took one silver note from him. "One hundred taels is enough. I can't accept more than that."

She was just deceiving him. One hundred taels would suffice to resolve the urgent situation at hand, and she didn't feel right taking more.

At the same time, she promised herself that this one hundred taels would be considered a loan, and she would definitely repay him double when she had the money.

Then, LiuYu suddenly bit her finger, and with the blood from her fingertip, she touched the demon's forehead. Then she began to chant a six-word mantra to the demon, "Om mani padme hum, Hello, I'm LiuYu, What's your name, Thank you for your money, See you around."

The demon couldn't understand what LiuYu was chanting and thought she was reciting a strange spell. He looked at her with a sly smile, thinking that this woman was really cunning. She said she would bite her finger, and she did. She was quite a character.

After reciting a long string of English words, LiuYu nodded solemnly to the demon. "I have successfully helped you dispel the disaster. You are now safe and sound. I will take my leave now. Perhaps we will meet again."

She didn't want to miss the opportunity to leave while the demon was still unaware of the situation.

LiuYu quickly made her escape, completely unaware of the demon's playful and interested gaze.

After passing through a small alley, LiuYu met up with Yuqing, and she handed her the silver note. "Go buy a roasted chicken, then go to the pharmacy to buy some golden sore medicine, gauze, and some laxatives and other medicinal herbs."

Seeing the silver note, Yuqing was surprised and widened her eyes. "Miss, you are amazing. Where did you get this silver note? Did you... steal it? The old lady taught us that we shouldn't take what doesn't belong to us..."

"Do I look like someone who steals? It was given to me willingly. Go buy what I asked for." There was no stealing, but there was swindling.

With a puzzled look, Yuqing quickly bought the items. LiuYu kept the remaining silver in her bosom and then found a secluded alley with Yuqing to eat the roasted chicken.

Yuqing hadn't eaten roasted chicken in years, and today, thanks to LiuYu, she was able to enjoy it again. She savored every bite and said, "This roasted chicken is so delicious. It's definitely Zhao Si's craftsmanship. I could eat another one. But, Miss, why did you ask me to buy laxatives? The owner of the pharmacy looked at me suspiciously, so I quickly told him I've been constipated lately, and that's why he sold them to me."

LiuYu elegantly took a piece of chicken and ate it slowly, her eyes fixed on the rosy glow in the sky. "Don't worry about it. We'll save a chicken leg for later. Hide it well and don't let anyone find it."

Yuqing nodded in confusion. The young lady had become so decisive and capable. It was like a magic trick to produce a hundred taels. She must protect the chicken leg and not let the wild woman, Wang Po, snatch it away.

After they had eaten their fill, they started on their way back home, completely unaware that a pair of alluring eyes was watching them from behind, following them all the way to the residence of the Grand General.

Soon they arrived at the Grand General's residence, and from a distance, LiuYu saw several elegantly dressed young men and women standing there.

Yuqing, feeling nervous, tugged at LiuYu's hand. "Miss, the young master and the fifth miss are waiting there. Are they deliberately waiting for you? Do they want to cause trouble for you?"

"Don't worry, I'm here." LiuYu patted Yuqing's hand to reassure her and calmly and sharply gazed ahead, expressionless and with icy eyes, as she approached them.

As soon as the master and servant returned to the residence, the fifth miss, Shangguan Qiuyue, sneered, "Oh, our fallen lady has finally decided to return home. Do you even remember this is your home? Why didn't you die outside? Have you been abandoned by that wild man and come back to seek refuge with Father?"

Shangguan Qiuyue was the third sister of Shangguan Yuqing. The three siblings, including the eldest son Shangguan Di, were all born to the concubine Su Yingxue.

They have never stopped bullying Liu Yue. Whenever she sees them, a deep hatred flashes in her eyes. It's all too common for the children of concubines to bully the children of the main wife. Liu Yue has been insulted and abused since she was young. In the past, she was so scared to go home when she saw them. Now, she proudly raises her head and coldly meets their insulting and mocking gazes.

She compared her clothes with those of Shangguan Qiuyue and her friends. Shangguan Qiuyue was dressed in luxurious silk and satin, adorned with precious jewelry piled on her head, like a proud peacock. While she was wearing coarse and plain clothes, looking like a servant. No, under the control of the madam, her living conditions were worse than the maids in the mansion. She was like a vulgar beggar girl.

Shangguan Yun was busy leading troops into battle and rarely saw her. He had never visited her in the small courtyard. Even if he did, he wouldn't blame the madam for withholding her food and clothing. He would only blame her for being dirty and ugly, bringing shame to his reputation as a great general.

He was truly a cold and heartless father. The ancient saying is indeed true: where there is a stepmother, there is a stepfather.

Seeing Liu Yue remain silent and daring to stare at her with cold eyes, the usually arrogant Shangguan Qiuyue couldn't bear it. She immediately glared at her in anger and harshly scolded, "Hey, little waste, are you deaf when I speak to you? Are you blind? Can't you see that I and the young master are standing here? Hurry up and come to pay your respects to us."